HOW TO DESIGN MODULAR SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR EARTHQUAKE ZONES

Products, services and software for seismic applications

We usually only hear about earthquakes when they’re really devastating, but in reality they’re happening everyday all over the world.

So to prepare for this, the construction industry’s codes (NTC 2008 and Eurocode 8) now also require non-structural elements and technical installations to be seismic resistant.

This includes all public buildings such as hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, and schools.

THE PHYSICS OF AN EARTHQUAKE

An earthquake generates additional loads on the pipeline in all directions.

Loads on the horizontal plane (Ex and Ey) are generally the most critical for the pipe support.

Building codes (such as EC8, IBC) provide simplified methods to calculate the seismic loads based on an equivalent static analysis.

According to most building codes the additional vertical seismic load does not need to be taken into account.

To withstand these horizontal forces, modular support systems must be sufficiently rigid or designed with bracings arranged both in a longitudinal and transversal direction and suitably anchored to the base material.

HILTI EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH AND TESTING

Working with the University of California, San Diego

At Hilti we believe strongly in research and development, running our own labs and testing facilities and working with credited partners all over the world.

For seismic testing we’ve been working with our partners at the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California, San Diego.

It’s an exciting project, where we’ve been conducting full-scale performance tests on our products using the largest vibrating table in the world – a specially constructed five-storey building subjected to a series of shocks at 1:1 on the Richter scale.

It’s been a great opportunity to research and design our seismic products, including all the components of our innovative Hilti MQS modular support system.

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Hilti participates in landmark seismic and fire research project at UCSD NEES facility.
Watch also the next video on nonstructural component test.